THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE Casts Sam Claflin

Well it’s official, Sam Claflin is Finnick Odair in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The Snow White and the Huntsman thesp had been widely speculated to join the sequel in mid-July as beautiful, athletic and charismatic Finnick, Victor of the 65th Hunger Games when he was fourteen, which helped him become something of a celebrity in the Capitol.

Claflin joins newcomers Jena Malone as Johanna Mason, Philip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee, Amanda Plummer landed the role of Wiress, while Lynn Cohen plays Mags, an elderly ally of Finnick’s, as well as returning key players Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark.

Directed by Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) the second installment of the big screen adaption of the Suzanne Collins’ bestsellers begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark; winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a ‘Victor’s Tour’ of the districts; along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.

The rising British actor recently finished The Quiet Ones opposite Jared Harris and Mary & Martha with Hilary Swank.

Catching Fire begins shooting in the fall and is slated for theatrical release on November 22nd, 2013.